If your kids are old enough to stay up late — or young enough not to know the difference — there are lots of places to watch an outdoor movie under the stars, often for FREE. While you can usually just show up, some places request pre-registration, so click on through to the ones you like most to snag your spot!
Thanks to Jack London Square and their Waterfront Flicks for sponsoring our guide to outdoor movies in the East Bay. Some movies are fun for a magical date night or memorable family night. All Jack London Square outdoor movies feature access to a gorgeous waterfront sunset and delicious restaurants.

Our Guide to East Bay outdoor movie screenings includes family-friendly-ish movies all around the East Bay. We will be updating it all year so stop back often. This post contains affiliate links.
Most of these venues will be offering snacks or kids’ activities in advance of the movie, so feel free to come early and play. Bring your low chairs and blankets.
Movies often start as soon as the sun goes down, but click through to verify start times!
Though we rarely see short-sleeves-in-the-evening temperatures in the Bay Area, this is the best chance we’ve got for outdoor movies that aren’t at the Concord drive-in.
East Bay Outdoor Movies:
Saturday, April 4, 2026
7:45 pm - 10:00 pm: Movie at the Lake: Lilo & Stitch @ Lake Chabot, Castro ValleyFriday, May 8, 2026
6:30 pm - 10:00 pm: Starlight Movies in the Park: Honey, I Shrunk The Kids @ Alameda Point Multi-Purpose Field, AlamedaSaturday, May 9, 2026
7:30 pm - 10:00 pm: Movie in the Park: The Greatest Showman @ Memorial Park | Albany, AlbanyThursday, June 11, 2026
8:00 pm - 10:00 pm: Movies in the Park: The Lion King @ Orinda Community Park, OrindaFriday, June 26, 2026
6:30 pm - 10:00 pm: Starlight Movies in the Park: The Aristocats @ Alameda Point Multi-Purpose Field, AlamedaThursday, July 16, 2026
8:00 pm - 10:00 pm: Movies in the Park: Zootopia @ Orinda Community Park, OrindaFriday, July 17, 2026
6:30 pm - 11:00 pm: Dive-In Movie: The Little Mermaid (RSVP) @ Encinal Swim Center, AlamedaFriday, July 24, 2026
6:30 pm - 10:00 pm: Starlight Movies in the Park: Back To The Future @ Alameda Point Multi-Purpose Field, AlamedaThursday, August 20, 2026
8:00 pm - 10:00 pm: Movies in the Park: Despicable Me @ Orinda Community Park, OrindaFriday, August 21, 2026
8:00 pm - 10:00 pm: Movies in the Park: Flow @ Piedmont Park, PiedmontFriday, August 28, 2026
6:30 pm - 10:00 pm: Starlight Movies: The Goonies @ Leydecker Park, AlamedaFriday, September 18, 2026
6:30 pm - 10:00 pm: Starlight Movies: Jurassic Park @ Jean Sweeney Open Space Park, Alameda7:15 pm - 9:15 pm: Movies in the Park: Elio @ Piedmont Park, Piedmont
Friday, October 16, 2026
6:45 pm - 8:45 pm: Movies in the Park: Wonka @ Piedmont Park, Piedmont

Did we miss your favorite outdoor screen? Tell us in the comments!
Note: 510families does not put on any of these movies. Movies and dates may change with or without notice because of weather, equipment, licensing, bad moods, pandemics, and unforeseen circumstances.

Thanks again to Jack London Square for sponsoring this guide to outdoor movies.

[Photo: outdoor movie pictures provided by Jack London Square and Walnut Creek Parks; used with permission]
Pin this to remember it later and visit our Summer Activity Guide to find more special events like these.


